Utility Bills, Bank Statements Could be Banned at Polls

Republican Delegate Mark Cole of Stafford County doesn’t like the idea of voters using a utility bill or check as an acceptable form of voter identification.

Cole told Fredericksburg.com a new bill he introduced would ban the use of such forms of ID at polls in Virginia.

The bill, from Del. Mark Cole, R-Spotsylvania, would remove from last year’s voter ID law provisions that let voters show a utility bill, bank statement, government check or paycheck as proof of their identity.

Cole is chairman of the House Privileges and Elections Committee, which handles voting and elections issues. He was the primary House sponsor of the 2012 session’s law that added new voter ID requirements, but didn’t favor allowing so many documents to serve as identification; that, he said, came from the Senate version of the bill.

In a phone interview this week, Cole said he wasn’t aware of any problems with voters using those documents to vote in the elections two weeks ago.

But, he said, he doesn’t think things like utility bills and bank statements should be used as acceptable forms of ID.

“We’d be better off to pare down the list a little bit,” Cole said.

Delegate of Richard Anderson (R-Prince William) agrees that these forms of ID should not be accepted at the polls, and said he will take a closer look at Cole’s bill.

“Just because you have a utility bill in hand doesn’t mean you live at that address,” said Anderson. “I always think any type of dialogue that we have to improve how our elected officials are chosen is a good thing.”

Cole’s bill comes after Rep. Jim Moran’s son, Patrick — who headed the successful re-election bid for the 10-term congressman — resigned after allegations he spoke with an undercover reporter about using fraudulent utility bills to commit voter fraud.

The General Assembly is due back in session Wednesday, January 9, in Richmond. Anderson said transportation and education are expected to be major topics of focus, and adds he’s not sure how much attention will be given to voter ID reforms.

At a meeting of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Electoral Board Secretary Tony Guiffre said poll workers had no issues with voters presenting a valid ID prior to stepping into to the polling booth.